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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 710 ..

Carnell Ministry

MS REILLY: My question is to the Chief Minister. I refer the Chief Minister to discussions initiated by her party colleagues, including Ministers, concerning the creation of a fifth ministry. Considering that such a move could cost the ACT over $200,000, will the Chief Minister put an end to the speculation and advise the Assembly what she intends to do?

MRS CARNELL: What speculation? I am happy to answer the question. There have been no discussions - not one - with any of my colleagues around here. There have been no discussions, not even one little discussion.

Mr Moore: Do you mean that a ministry for me was going to replace one of them?

MRS CARNELL: That was after Michael Moore got back.

MS REILLY: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Obviously, the Chief Minister is saying that there have been no discussions to date. Is she going to reconsider this case in the future and will she rule out a fifth ministry in her time as Chief Minister?

MRS CARNELL: It is a hypothetical question. I do not mean just today; I mean that today or yesterday or the day before there have been no discussions.

MR SPEAKER: I cannot allow your answer to that one.

Youth Business Initiatives

MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to the Minister for Business, Employment and Tourism, Mr De Domenico. Could the Minister inform the parliament of what the Government is doing to foster and encourage young business talent in the ACT?

Mr Moore: More auctions!

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, Mr Moore suggests more auctions. If it creates jobs, Mr Moore, we will get more auctions, I dare say. Mr Speaker, unlike those members opposite when they were in government, this Government is committed, obviously, to encouraging growth in business and the tourism industry and thereby to creating new employment opportunities. Canberra is no longer merely a public service town, and it is imperative that initiatives be put in place to nurture the types of talents and skills required to develop a successful business.

In this context, the Government is giving a high priority to a number of initiatives. For example, the ACT is participating in the youth business initiative - a jointly funded program designed to assist young unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 25 to establish themselves in new business ventures. The program aims to reduce the risk of failure in establishing a new business by providing a six-week intensive planning course

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